Disgraceful: Former Labour defector lies about MP’s critique of Independent Group
Liar: Ian Austin.
Comments by Scottish Labour MP Paul Sweeney about former colleagues who defected to The Independent Group have proved very interesting – in the way another former Labour MP has lied about them.
Glasgow North East MP Paul Sweeney said the MPs who founded and joined The Independent Group took part in a “necessary cleansing” of Labour.
He described Chris Leslie and Chuka Umunna as “self-centred careerists”.
Mr Leslie was “aloof and arrogant”, he said, adding: “The venom and vitriol with which he addressed our front bench was a disgrace.”
And he applied these criticisms to other Independent Group members who used to be Labour MPs, including Mr Umunna, Mike Gapes and Angela Smith.
But he said Luciana Berger, who also quit Labour to join the Independent Group, had faced “unacceptable bullying”.
And how does Ian Austin, who also quit Labour but didn’t join The Independent Group, present this story?
Like this:
A Labour MP says that people who have left Labour because of racism and extremism is a "necessary cleansing".
Let's think about this: @pauljsweeney thinks the party is cleaner because people appalled about racism have left.https://t.co/t5B0bdCNyN— Ian Austin (@LordIanAustin) March 18, 2019
Austin is a liar. Mr Sweeney never said a word about racism and extremism.
In fact, he spoke kindly about Ms Berger, even though none of the bullying she suffered was by Labour Party members.
Austin’s words have only served to prove Mr Sweeney’s point: Labour is cleaner without the Independent Group defectors – and much cleaner without Austin himself.
Source: EXCLUSIVE: Paul Sweeney says defectors were part of a ‘necessary cleansing’ | Morning Star
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Even if these charlatans manage to rob us of a Corbyn-led government one thing they can never change is how Jeremy has shown millions of people a new way is possible. He leads a political party but I think more than that he started a political movement.
Well said, Michael McNulty. I agree with you but I’m still hoping for a Labour government, with Corbyn as Prime Minister.